News Release
Woman Fractured Wrist when She Punched Cell Wall; SIU Discontinues Ottawa Investigation
Case Number: 23-OCI-353
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 44-year-old woman in August in Ottawa.
In the morning of August 29, 2023, the woman was arrested by Ottawa Police Service (OPS) officers and transported to OPS facilities where she was lodged in a cell. Shortly thereafter, the woman punched a wall in the cell. She was transported to hospital for treatment of a fractured right wrist.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. On this record, there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any officer was concerned in connection with the woman’s injury. The file has been closed.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES